Glowing tributes were paid to poet, philosopher Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who conceived the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent, as his 82nd death anniversary was marked on Tuesday.

Born on November 9, 1877 in Sialkot Dr Iqbal was one of the main exponents of the Pakistan Movement. A man with great ideas and dynamics, Iqbal was regarded as Sufi poet of the modern age. As a great poet, thinker and philosopher Iqbal infused a revolutionary spirit in the Muslim youth of the Sub-continent through his poetry and he was given a title of Allama due to his deep thinking and far-sightedness.

Television and radio channels paid special tribute to the national poet for his vision. Due to COVID-19 lockdown, special functions could not be organized. The poet philosopher died on April 21, 1938.

Allama Iqbal's poetry has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and several other languages.

Punjab University vice-chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad in his message on the death anniversary of Allama Iqbal said that Allama Iqbal dreamt of establishment of Pakistan and motivated the Muslims of the region to get a separate homeland where they could live in an independent atmosphere and practice their religion.

He said that in Pakistan, all the minorities were enjoying complete freedom, were safe and could perform their religious obligations in a free manner. On the contrary, he said, the situation of minorities in India was worsening day by day and they were falling prey to the brutalities of the Modi government. He said that Allama Iqbal was a universal poet and we needed to follow his teachings for the prosperity of Pakistan.